Teacup, today I was looking around my yard to see what could fulfil that tall order and Katie dwarf ruellia was at the top of the list. I have only the purple, but I love it. The white and pink ones did not persist for me.

Bossy, your #1 'aristolochia fimbriata' grows well for me too, but I never have gotten it as thick and pretty as yours since the pipevine swallowtail caterpillars take it down pretty quick, but that's what I have it for. I do enjoy it for itself before they start chomping on it ... :-)

Purslane keeps popping up. I think I have an area cleared one year and then next year, there are more in that area again.

I am careful not to let it go to seed or even bloom (in those particular locations), so I guess these are just seeds from prior years.

I have butterfly weed too, but the ones that reseed are the hardy,tough ones. I haven't had much luck planting/moving them. This year I had problems with them with spider mites for the first time.

I am also having good luck with dwarf pomegranate

I'd have to add Four O'clocks . They'll grow anywhere all the time and they do smell nice. However, I'll just enjoy my neighbor's plants ... ;-)

Bossyvossy, Do you know if your Butterfly weed is Asclepias tuberosa (native) or a. curassavica (tropical)? We bought a replacement tagged as a. tuberosa from a reliable nursery last fall that produced those bi-colored flowers. Assumed it was a mis-tagged tropical milkweed; but now wondering if it could actually be some (hybrid?) cultivar of a. tuberosa that will not have to be pampered this winter in 8a. Here's a page with a good comparison shot of common milkweed flowers, all of our previous butterfly weeds had the more solid orange ones.

How do you get sap in your eyes? By wiping the sweat off your brow probably. I knew to be careful when I was moving a gopher plant, which is in a family known for it's toxic sap -- euphorbia, but I didn't notice that I had gotton any sap on my gloved hands. However, my lips and tongue sure did when I wiped my sweaty top lip with that hand and then licked my lips. With lots of scrubbing with soap and alcohol and many mouthfulls of mouthwash I was fine by that evening. Gardening isn't for the hot-house-pansy-faint-of-heart types. We are out there fighting dragons! ... lol

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm pretty convinced that's what we were sold. Noticed it is much easier to start from seed than a. tuberosa, which is apparently another clue it's tropical. Nice plant in spite of the sap hazard. We've never had reason trim them, so not much risk - but always good to be aware.

One of our "anywhere, anyhow, anytime" plants is Zexmenia. A consistent, though not prolific, bloomer that continues to look good on only rain water once established. Can be used in sun or shade. Not the best photo, but shows lantana and salvia growing through its fairly dense cover.

Bossy vossy, I have two dwarf poms in semi shade at my place and one in sun at my mil garden of hell ( things that must thrive on their own because I can only get over there a little during the week) all are doing well. So I always advise a newbie to try them because I want them to have success.

I looked at the milkweed pics and I have both the bicolor one and one that is all yellow. Does any one know what the all yellow one is?

I never tried to eat one and apparently that was as good idea lol! I like the dwarf pom for its upright habit. I seem to have too many sprawlers and crawlers which I am slowly trying to remedy as I try different things.

I'll have to add blue plumbago to the list of grow-anywhere plants. I have it in sun and shade, in the ground and in planters, and it does well all those ways and places, and is drought tolerant to boot. Those of us in hot climates are so lucky to have such an easy to grow plant that produces beautiful blue flowers almost year round.

I didn't realize blue plumbago could go in a container. Does it need tons of water to keep from drooping?

In a container is the ony way I can grow it here in North Texas as it is not winter hardy in the ground. I have one that has been in a large container for at least fifteen years. I have to trim it every couple of years to keep in a size that can be dealt with. And yes, I do seem to have to water it several times a week.

As well as in the ground I have it in a deep flower box which I water every week or two. My next door friend/neighbor has it in a half whiskey barrel along her drive way on my side. I used to water it, but thought maybe if I didn't water it she'd become more aware of what needs irrigation and water it herself which she does now, but I'm not sure how often. Probably once or twice a week. But it pops right up with water even after being very wilted.